Minister Lebel meets with design experts to discuss the new bridge for the St. Lawrence

MONTREAL, Feb. 18, 2013 /CNW/ - Today, the Honourable Denis Lebel,
Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, and Minister of
the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec,
met with engineering, business and design experts to discuss the new
bridge for the St. Lawrence.

"We are working towards a solid, durable bridge that will be built to
last," said Minister Lebel. "Our discussions were very productive and I
am pleased to be able to count on local experts for advice."

The goal of the meeting was to listen to their views on how to ensure
architectural quality, while respecting project timelines as well as
budgetary and environmental considerations.

"We will deliver a high quality structure, on time and on budget, to
meet the needs of commuters, transit users and commerce," said Minister
Lebel.

Since last fall, Transport Canada officials have held a series of
meetings with stakeholders to discuss the design of the new bridge as
well as many other key facets of this project. The project is on track
and continues to respect its original timelines. The federal government
will continue to work with key partners, including representatives of
the Government of Quebec and the Cities of Montreal, Brossard and
Longueuil, to advance the new bridge for the St. Lawrence.

On October 5, 2011, Minister Lebel announced that the Government of
Canada will proceed with a new crossing to replace the existing
Champlain Bridge. The six-lane Champlain Bridge is one of the busiest
bridges in Canada. With an estimated $20 billion in international trade
crossing the Champlain Bridge annually, this corridor is a significant
part of the regional economy and Canada's economy as a whole. The
project also supports the objectives of Canada's gateway strategies.

For more information about the new bridge for the St. Lawrence, please
visit www.tc.gc.ca/nbfsl.